Thread treating method



July 19,

1949. H. o. NAUMANN THREAD TREATING METHOD riginal Filed Jul'y 14, 1942 .9. sheets-sheet 1 Julyw, w49. H. o. NAUMANN 2,476,757

' THREAD TBEATING METHOD` Original Filed July 14,y 1942 9 sheets-sheet 2 m Mawr? @7321K July 19, 1949.

original Filed July 14, 1942 H. O. NAUMANN THREAD TREATING METHOD v 9 Sheets-Shea?l 5 .July '19, 17949. o. NAUMANN t THREAD TREATING METHOD 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed July 14, 1942 H. o. NAUMANN y 2,476,757

THREAD TREATING METHOD July 19, 1949.-

original Filed July 14, 1942 9 sheets-sheet 5 l July. 19, 1949. H. o. NAUMANN v THREAD yTREAZIIING METHOD 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed July 14, 1942 July 19, 1949. H. NAUMANN THREAD TREATING' METHOD 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 Original Filed July 14, 1942 wml I July 19, 1949. H. o. NAUMANN' 2,476,757

THREAD TREAT ING METHOD Original Filed July 14, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 gave/wm July 19,1949. H. OQNAUMANN THREAD TREATING METHOD -9 Sheets-Sheet 9 original Filed July 14, 1942 allllllllnl 'llnlll ||||||I|||I|I|ll||l| llllllllllnlllllal I lull' Patented July 19, 1949 signor to North American Rayon Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application July 14, 1942, Serial No. 450,934, now Patent No. 2,416,533, dated February 25, 1947.

Divided and this application October 21, 1946, Serial No. '704,644v

12 Claims.

This invention relates to the treatment of thread and is more particularly concerned with a process for the manufacture of Wet spun rayon threads.

Generally speaking, the Wet spinning of synthetic thread by the cake or package method embodies the extrusion of a spinning solution into a spin bath, the collection of the thread thus formed into packages either in the Vform of cakes, spool packages, or skeins, and then the subsequent liquid treatment and sometimes drying of the thread while it remains in package form.

Due to the fact that such packages comprise superposed and often tightly-wound layers of thread, it becomes necessary, in order to insure that each individual thread layer receives proper treatment, to force liquid through the package by` means of pressure and/or vacuum.

The primary object of this invention is to facilitate the treatment of synthetic thread with liquidsv and to obviate the necessity for employing and handling cakes, spool packages or skeins. Another object is to expose uniformly each portion of a thread to treating fluids, under definitely controlled conditions and for adequate periods ofV time.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for producing finished wet spun threads, fully after-treated, dried, sized and twisted to a controlled extent, characterized by economy in the amount of chemicals used, in the control of their temperature, in the amount of space occupied, and in man hours per pound of thread produced.

The above and other objects may be attained b employing this invention, which embodies among its features directing a thread from a suitable thread source onto and around a thread-advancing thread-Store device and applying treating liquids to separate zones of the thread-advancing thread-store device, by the action of the elements of which the treating liquids are distributed as films in their respective Zones, and the thread is advanced in the form of a single layer of helices travelling progressively and substantially horizontally through the Zones and through said films oi liquids.

Other advantages of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description thereof in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein: l

Figure 1 is an end view, partially in section, of a preferred type of continuous spinning machine adapted for practicing the method of this invention;

Figure 2 is a View partially in section and partially in side elevation of a thread-storage, threadadvancing unit typical of those employed on the' spinning side of the'machine of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View partially in section and partially in side elevation of a thread-storage,

thread-advancing unit typical of those employed on the nishing side of the machine of Figure 1;

Figures 4; 5, 6, and 7 are developments illustrating the manner of disposition and function of dierent types of grooves cut'in the surfaces of certain cylinders of thread-storage, thread-advancing units constructed according to this invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view, to an enlarged, scale, of a portion of the upper roller of the thread-storage, thread-advancing unit, illustrating the structural details of a liquid separation zone;

Figure 9 is a Vertical section to an enlarged scale of a portion of the upper roller of the thread-storage, thread-advancing device of Figure 3 showing in detail the connection between sections of a roller and the structure of the liquid discharge zone between adjacent sections;

Figure 10 is a development of the cylindrical surface constituting a portion of the cooling zone of the upper roller of the thread-storage, threadadvancing device; y Figure 11 is a fragmentary view in section of the cylinder developed in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a View partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section of another embodiment of a thread-storage, thread-advancing device of the type with which the finishing side of a spinning machine may be equipped;

Figure 13 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in longitudinal section illustrating a further modified type of thread-storage, threadadvancing device involving a treating liquid fed from the interior of the unit;

Figure 14 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in longitudinal section of a cantilever thread-storage, thread-advancing unit including temperature controlling means acting on the surface or" the roller to which liquid treating media are applied;

Figure 15 is a view in elevation of the unsupported end of the unit of Figure 14; and

Figure 16 is a iiow sheet illustrating the method of supplying and circulating the liquids used with the rollers of the machines shown in the preceding figures.

Referring now in detail to Figure 1, it will be seen that the spinning machine illustrated includes a number of spinning units, each consisting basically of a spinneret I and a pair of thread-storage, thread-advancing devices II and I2. On devices II and I2, the freshly formed thread is subjected to all required after-treatments, whereupon it is concurrently twisted and collected on twisting spindle I3 in finished form. For convenience in illustration, all of the com= ponent units of a continuous spinning machine constructed according to the present invention have not been illustrated. 'It is "c'ntemplated, however, that a single machine include 'some 50 to 70 spinning units arranged in alignment as illustrated. While it will be increasingly evident upon consideration of the following description that this invention is adaptable to lany type of wet spinning operation involving the preparation of a thread in the form of a hydrated colloid, the'apparatus will be specically discussed in conjunction with the manufacture ofviscose rayon.

Under actual thread ma uiacturing'conditions, all of the spinnerets Ill 'are' disposed in 'a single commen spin beth eentttiner`A |j4 which extends for the full 'length Vof the niatjhirie.` v

At spaced points along tnelength of the rear wan of spin bath centaines 14, godets genet-elly indicated at 3| are provided, `each of these consisting of a drivenwheel 32 and a freely rotatable one 33. The thread issuing from each spin- Iier'et I is rst Aled around the respective godet unit 3I and then througn'a bath trough 34 similar to ytrough I4, butfaidaptjed to contain hot water or hot 'acid depending upon the chemical requirements in any' `particular instance. In trough 34 the thread isjpac's'sed varound a freely rotatable guide 35' :audit/hen "ledito thread-storage, thread-advancing unit I'I. AThe by-passin'g Vor use 'of trough 3d is -entirely/"a matter of the chemistryof thread treatment and the thread mayb'e led ldirectly from 'godet 3| L"to "thread-storage, threadeadvancing unit II as illustrated by the dot and dash lines VinFilg'ur'e 1. Since the `spinning machine Aof the Vitrsnt invention is adaptab1e te the manufacture Aet threads of widely varying characteristics', 'it "is v4'evident 'that means may be provided for fv'a ying the amount of stretch to be yimparted'tothe"thread inany par*- ticularinstane. Frmtll'ig'odet unit 3l, :around the wheels o f which the thread is woundsever'al times to prevent slipping, `eazh' thread is led vto its respective thread-storage, thread-'advancing unit H either directly oi- 'througnta'th trough 34. As can be seen fn the drawings, each unit II is comprised 'of twogenerallyhorizontally extending rollers 4 5 and 46. u

Although rollers f45 and `45 'both Vextend generally horizontally, it is the usual practice to dispose the axis of roller v'lili in a truly horizontal direction while that'of roller 45 is slightly inclined 'with respect totlieihorizcntal'so that the axes of the two rollers constituting a unit vI-I will intersect.

Inasrnuch as roller -45 -does v'not lextend in a truly horizontal directionfitisevident that this roller will, when properly disposed with respect to roller 46, `c'aus'etlii'ead wound i'n a coil around the two rollers to move axially-of "the unit. In two-roller 'threadrstoraga thread-advancing units `thread ""drawnonto a roller will approach the s'ameataright'angle to the direction of pull which is,"of course, Vfrom'the Vaxis thereof. Thus, if `roller `^4'5is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal so Athat 'the `axis thereof 'and that 'of -roller 46 converge 4in the directionof their unsulzfported ends, thread wound around the two rollers will necessarily progress in the direction of convergence, i. e.,

toward the unsupported end of the unit. Since the spacing between adjacent connected coils is a function of the angle o convergence, it is also evident that the angle will determine the number of coils in unit II at any given time which, in turn, will control the duration of any treatment they may receive, during passage thereover, assuming a constant linear speed. Thus, in the interest ci accurate 'control of the duration of the treatments to be accomplished on unit II, vthe position of the axis of roller d5 is rendered vadjustable by suitable means such as that shown 1-5 in Figure 1. Rollers 45 and 46 which constitute unit II are arranged in such a Way that their axes liein the same vertical plane but are convergent inthe direction of the unsupported end of the unit. It is evident that the axial feeding theory will likewise obtain in any arrangement involving at least two rollers, the axes of which intersect.

The thread 'leaving the godet 3I is passed around rollers d5 and 46 in the form of spaced connected `coils. The thread is rst led onto the upper cylinder 45 of unit II over a guide roller 68, located adjacent vthe supported end of cylinder 45, said guide roller being supported on a bracket extending from collection trough 69 which underlies roller 45. -I't is led Voff from the opposite side of upper roller 45 of unit I I, under a guide roller I0 adjacent the free end of the unit, over a guide roller II A`and from thence to a thread-storage, Ythread-advancing unit I2. The path of the thread to and from unit I I is shown in Figure 1, the spaced coils wound around the roll-ers being omitted for convenience in illustration.

The carrying of the thread from unit II to unit I2 isefectedby means of a transfer device diagrammatically shown at the top of Figure 1, which includes two alternately operated temporary collecting rollers TI, 8| driven by motors 80 and 8-2 respectively, The ,details and method of operating the transfer device are disclosed in my ccpending applications Ser. Nos. 489,554 and 489,555 illed June 3, Y1943 issued as U. S. Patents Nos. 2,410,456 Aand 2,410,673, respectively, on November 5, 1946. A

In the operation of unitlII, shafts 4l and 55 of cylindrical rollers 45and 48, respectively, must be driven in such a way that the two cylinders of equal diameter have the same peripheral speed. This is best done by driving shafts 50 55 and59 inusynchronism ufrom a common power source or by driving One shaft from the other. Arrows in Figure 1 serve-to illustrate the direction of rotation'of the'i'ollers ofnit yI I.

c Unit I2 is 4operatedin analogous fashion. The 60 gearing Yfor drivingcboth units is diagrammatically indicated in Figure 41 and is described in detail in my k'corner-idling "application Ser. No. 456,934, filed July 14, 1942. A

The axial movement of 4the coils of thread n65 from the supported towardthe unsupported end of thread-storage, thread-'advancing device II will occur only after that device has been threaded up andvis in operation. Therollers of thread-storage, thread-advancing units vII and '70 I2 also haveextremelyimportant 4functions with regard to the manner and duration of the aftertreatments to which thread is subjected during passage thereover. c

The structural` details of thread-storage, .w thread-advancing device I I 'are illustrated inFigilo ure 2. Rollers 45 and 46 are composite in nature, each consisting of two hollow cylinders spaced apart by annularrmembers. RollerY 45 lis made up of hollow cylinders 209 and 210 between which a shouldered annular member z211 is in-` terposed. Roller 46 is similarly constructed, consisting of hollow cylinders 212 and 213 separated by a shouldered annular member 214. Cylindrical portions 209 and 212 are sweated or pressed over cylindrical supporting surfaces '215 and 216, respectively, said supporting surfaces being integral with spiders 211 and 218, respectively, having hubs 219 and 220 keyed at 221 and 1222 to shafts 55 and 41. The unsupported end of cylinder 209 is tted over shoulder 223 of annular member 211 and an end of cylinder 210 is similarly arranged with respect to the shoulder 224 thereof. A like construction obtains in roller 46 Where the free end of cylinder 212 ts over shoulder 225 of annular member 214 while an end of cylinder 213 fits over its shoulder 226. So that cylinders 212 and 213 with their interposed annular member 21-4 may lbe held as a unit to form roller 46,A they are compressed between an annular flange 221 extending outwardly from spider 218 and a nut 228 threaded onto an end portion of shaft 41 and bearing through a washer 229 against a disc 230 fixed to cylinder 213. The construction shown and described in detail inv connection with roller 46 likewise obtain.c with respect to roller 45.

While the two cylinders and the associated annular member making up each of rollers 45 and 46 function as a unit so far as threadstorage, and thread-advancing are concerned, the cylinders and interposed annular members have different functions with regard to the application of treating liquids to the thread. Thus, liquids are sprayed individually on the surfaces of cylinders 209, 210, 212 and 213. This is effected by disposing discharge pipes above the various cylinders, see Figure 2. Pipe 231 is above cylinder 209, pipe 232 is above cylinder 210, pipe 233 is above cylinder 212 and pipe 234 is above cylinder 213. These pipes are perforated on the underside so that liquids passing therethrough will be discharged in the form of a spray onto the surface of the underlying cylinder. As has been previously indicated, the cylinders ilustrated in Figure 2 are intended .for rotation in a clockwise direction, as viewed from their unsupported ends. For this reason, the spray pipes are disposed on the left-hand side of the rollers 45 and 46 as viewed from their unsupported ends. This is to aid in the distribution of liquid over the respective cylindrical surfaces. Since thread moving on thread-storage, thread-advancing device 11 will pass around both rollers in the form of a coil, it is evident that the` same treating liquid will be supplied by pipes 231 and 233 to cylinders 209 and 212 while a different liquid may be supplied from pipes 232 and 234 to cylinders 210 and 213. Because of the fact that the apertures in the various pipes are more or less evenly distributed over the axial length of the respective cylinders, the liquid distribution over the'surface of the cylinders would be apparently quite even. It has been found, however, that only liquids of low surface tension having good wetting out properties will form a cylindrical film of substantially constant thickness over the full axial length of a smooth cylindrical surface. Other liquids with low wetting out characteristics tend to form relatively 'thick annular bands directly under each pipe outlet, the intervening spaces being inadequately covered. Since controlled duration of liquid treatment goes to the very essence rof after-treatmentY of wet spun threads of synthetic origin, smooth cylindrical treating surfaces are wholly unsuitable for some of the after-treatmentsl requisite ,to the production of high quality thread. Y The surfaces of the component cylinders of rollers 45 and 46, however, are arranged in a manner to overcome the difficulty heretofore encountered and to distribute any treating liquid over a cylindrical zone of predetermined axial length in the form of a film of uniform thickness throughout its length. Thus, by knowing the linear speed of thread travel over a cylindrical treating surface, the axial length of that surface, the diameters of the two cylinders constituting a treating zone, and the coil spacing in that zone, it is possible accurately to predetermine the time period that any given point on a thread will be subjected to a given chemical treatment. `Since the angle of convergence of the rollers is a function of coil spacing and since that angle is an adjustable one while the component cylindrical sections of each roller are removable, see nut 228 in Figure 2, it is evident that both the coil spacing in a zone and the axial length thereof may be altered to meet different treatment requirements.

The uniform distribution of liquids over the surfaces of cylinders 209, 210, and 213, as well as the rate of axial movement of such liquids, is controlled by grooves 235 and 236 cut in the cylindrical surfaces. These grooves move liquids sprayed on the cylinders 210 and 213 from right to left as viewed in Figure 2. To prevent intermixture of liquids on cylinder 210 with those on cylinder 209 and similarly to prevent intermixture of liquids on cylinder 213 with those on cylinder 212, the respective annular members 211 and 214 are exteriorly grooved. The detailed structure and function of these grooves will be hereinafter more fully set forth. However, since these grooves prevent intermixture of the liquids' on adjacent cylinders, partitions '231 and 238 in troughs 69 and 12 extend under the respective central grooves of annular members 211 and 214 so that the liquids discharged from adjacent cylinders may be separately recovered.

Flange 221 on spider 218 serves to prevent any treating liquid, which may be corrosive in nature, from reaching bearing 52. As a further pro-` tective step in this connection, a housing 239 extends over hub 220 of spider 218, said housing being attached to main housing 51. .A similar arrangement involving a housing 240 obtains in connection with the assembly of upper roller 45.

Thread-storage, thread-advancing unit 12 is composed of two rollers 126 and 121 which have been in part described. These rollers are driven from shafts 134 and 128, respectively, through spiders '241 and 242, keyed respectively at 243 and 244, as can be seen in Figure 3.

Spider 241 is provided with a cylindrical portion 241 over which a cylinder 248 is pressed. This cylinder is provided with an annular flange 249, similar in function to flange 221. Roller 126 is made up in much the same manner as rollers 45 and 46 and includes, in addition to cylinder 248,'cylinders 250V and 251, and shouldered annular members 252 and 253 similar to members 211 and 214, shown in Figure 2. The cylinders are fitted over the shouldered portions of annular members 252 and 253 in the same manner as cylinders 209 and 210 are fitted over the shoulders 223 and `224 of annular member 211'. Inte- 7 gralv with or attached to cylinder 25|-isY a spider 254 provided with a central hub 255 through which the threaded free end 256 of a shaft |34 is passed. A nut 251 may be drawn againstv a Washer 258 to pull cylinder 25| toward cylinder 248, thereby holding the intermediate annular members and cylinder 250 so that the entire assembly may function as a unit.

- Practically an identical arrangement is used in drawing together the component parts of roller |21.

As is the case with unit ll, the various cylinders making up unit I2 are provided with liquid supply pipes as may be seen in Figure 3. Thus, a pipe 269 supplies liquid above cylinder 250 and similar pipes 210, 21|, 212 and 213 perform a' corresponding function in connection with cylinders 248, 265, 266 and 263 respectively. Underlying cylinder |26 is a collection trough 214 having partitions 215 and 216 underlying respectively annular members 253 and 252. In this' way, liquid supplied to the various component cylinders of roller 2|6 may be separately recovered. A trough 211 underlies roller |21 and this trough is partitioned at 218 and 219, the partitions underlying respectively annular members 261 and 268. Figure 3 shows that cylinders 256 and 266 are provided with grooves 280 and that there are some grooves 28| at the right-hand side of cylinder 25|'. These grooves and grooves 235 and 236 of Figure 2 function to distribute liquids over the surface of the cylinders in which they are located, the liquids being supplied from the pipes disposed above the particular cylinder. lThe structure and function of; these grooves will be explained in connection with grooves 286 disposed on cylinder 250 of roller |26. The grooves are disposed helically about the surface of cylinder 250, although on that cylinder no single groove extends for the full axial length of the cylinder. For convenience in explaining the operation of grooves 280, a portion of the surface of cylinder 25|! is developed in Figure 4; The grooves 289 extend at an angle to a plane at right angles to the axis of the cylinder, which,

of course, is also the axis of the helix. Since the" direction of rotation of the rollers is counterclockwise as they are viewed from their unsupported ends, a drop of liquid lodged in a groovev 280 after having been sprayed through apertures in pipe 269 will have a tendency due to inertia, to remain stationary. The cylinder, however, rotates in a counterclockwise direction so' that as a result of the inertia of the liquid it is caused to progress in an axial direction toward the supported end of the rollers |26 along the groove, The rate of liquid now in an axial sense will be dependent upon the magnitude of angle' 0. As viewed in Figure 4, the liquid moves from left to right. On the other hand, if the developed cylinder there shown were rotated in theY opposite direction, the liquids-would move from right to left. So far as-thread treatrnent'isconlcerned it-is desirable tohave` movement of the liquid and distribution thereof in the form of a; continuous lm over the surface of the cylinder' than the respective grooves land serve to causethe liquidto spread outand move circumferentially as a filmY until it is pickedjup by thefneXt groove which recoiii'mences axialv movement, as`

indicated by'the flow arrows in Figure 4. Be-

The flared portions 282 are of` 8v cause of the grooves 280 and the ared portions 282 thereof, liquids sprayed on cylinder 25D from pipe 269 will be well distributed over the cylinder and will move axially as a film toward the supported end of roller |26; This movement is quite distinct from any movement brought about by reliance on gravitational force since shaft |34 of roller |26 slopes downwardly in the direction of the unsupported end of the unit. Thus, liquids moved in the direction of the supported end vof the unit, are, on the surface of cylinder 250, moved upwardly. Since shaft |34 slopes down- Wardly, while shaft |28 is in a truly horizontal position, it is evident that if the same helix angle for grooves 23|) were to be used on cylinders 250 and 266', the rate of liquid movement on cylinder 266 would be greater than the rate of liquid movement on cylinder 250. To compensate for this, the angle 0, see again Figure 4, is of greater magnitude for the grooves 280 on cylinder 25|)v than for the grooves 280 on cylinder 266, i. e., for cylinder 250, 0 more nearly approaches 45. By compensation, it is therefore possible and' intended that the liquids shall move at the same rate on the surface of cylinders 256 and 266, inV the former case against the force of gravity.

It will be noted that while grooves 235, 236, 28B and 28| are all helically disposed, the configuration of each is somewhat distinct so as to adapt the grooves to the particular treatment contemplated on the cylinder on the surface of which they are cut. Where the liquid treatment is a mechanical one, such as washing, rapid counterflow of liquid is desirable. Thus, grooves 235 in cylinders 2|() and 2| 3 are disposed in such a manner as to insure both rapid flow and rapid distribution. The washing Water supplied through pipes 232 and 234 is moved in considerable volume and fairly rapidly from right to left, as Viewed in Figure 2. Thus, the thread leaving unit is in contact with fresh water while the thread entering cylinders 2H) and 2|'3 is Vcontacted first with Water which has therein certain impurities removed from the thread. In the treatment of freshly spun viscose yarn, the liquid applied to cylinders 269 and 2|2 is an acid. This acid is subsequently removed by Washing on cylinders 2|0 and 2|3. Since the acid treatment effected on cylinders 209 and 2|2 is chemical in nature rather than mechanical, liquid movement on roller 2 |2 is not necessary. The acid has good wetting out properties and spreads fairly evenly over cylinder 2|2 in the form of a i'ilm through which the thread is passed. Of course, cylinder 269 is used in the same treatment. This cylinder, however, is not disposed truly horizontally, but

slopes in the direction of the unsupported end of the unit. Thus, grooves 236 are provided for the purpose of counteracting the effect of gravity.

In the after-treatment of freshly spun viscose yarn, cylinders 248 and 263 of unit l2 @an be conveniently employed as a desulphurizing zone. The desulphurizing liquid has been found to be self-distributing, the treatment is a chemical one,

and for that reason, the surfaces of cylinders 248- and 263 need not be grooved. Cylinders 250 andv 266- constitute another Washing zone. I-Iere substantial quantities of Water are supplied to vtheA cylinders and are moved from left to right, as viewed in Figure 3, in a manner hereinbefore explained in connection with Figure 4. Cylinder 265 is used for the application of 'a finishing solution to the thread. This solution need not be supplied in large amounts and having a low surface tension, is more or less self-distributing.

Consequently, cylinder 265 is not provided with grooves to cause axial movement of the liquid supplied from pipe 21|. Since only a small amount of the finishing solution is applied to the thread, no similar zone on roller |26 is required. However, a portion of cylinder 25| extends over cylinder 265 and the former, near its unsupported end, is provided with a heating unit 283 which is in registry with cylinder 264 of roller |21, as described in Patent No. 2,244,745. A heat insulating disc 284 serves to divide the interior of cylinder 25| into two portions and prevents the radiation of heat into the portion of cylinder 25| which is in vertical registry with cylinder 265. The surface of cylinder 25|, however, is of a heat conductive material. Thus, to prevent the surface conduction of heat along cylinder 25| beyond disc 284, a cooling zone 285 is interposed. This cooling zone is best viewed in Figures and 11. The thickness of cylinder 25| is reduced at annular zone 285 and a number of perforations 286 are provided therein. These allow the atmospheric air in the spinning rooms to pass through a portion of the cylinder to cool the same. Grooves 28|, on the surface of cylinder 25| tend to move any finishing solution carried by the thread from cylinder 265 to cylinder 25| to the right of the letter, as it is Viewed in Figure 3, so that it cannot get onto the heating zone.

The grooves shown in Figures 2 and 3 do not constitute the only possible arrangements for the distribution and movement of liquids over treatment cylinders. In Figure 5, a developed cylinder 281 is shown having flared grooves 288 cut in the surface thereof. The various helical grooves are circumferentially spaced about the surface of the cylinder so that the flare of one groove is partially in registry with the deep portion of the adjacent groove and partially in registry with the flared portion thereof. The flow arrows in Figures 4 to '1 illustrate the liquid distribution. The discharge of the used treating liquid from the various cylinders and the individual recovery of the treating liquids without contamination brought about by admixture of liquid supplied to adjacent cylinders is effected by the means shown in Figures 8 and 9 in which the grooved outer surface of shouldered annular member 253 is illustrated.

In Figure 8 shouldered annular member 253 is disposed between cylinder 25| and 258. The exterior surface of annular member 253, which lies between the surfaces of cylinders 250 and 25|, is provided with four annular grooves 293, 294, 295, and 296. These grooves are of varying depths, as shown in Figure 9. The peripheral speed and the radius of all of the cylinders constituting units and |2 are so corelated that liquids will not be thrown off those cylinders by centrifugal force. Any liquid moved by grooves 28| from left to right on cylinder 25| will eventually come to groove 293 in annular member 253. The peripheral speed of roller |26 is so corelated with its diameter that the tendency to discharge from groove 294 will be substantially balanced by gravity during that portion of the rotation in which gravity acts counter to centrifugal force whereas during another portion thereof gravity will act concurrently with centrifugal force so as to permit liquid todischarge from groove 293 into underlying trough 214. The amount of liquid entrained by the thread and delivered to the surface of cylinder 25| is so slight that groove 293 can discharge the liquid as fast as it is delivered; groove 294 has the same function as groove 293 and acts cumulatively with the latter to discharge liquids when they are supplied to groove 293 faster than that groove can effect the discharge. Groove 295 is normally dry and may be considered the separation groove; no liquids moving from cylinder 25| will be able to progress beyond groove 294 in an axial sense.

While grooves 293, 294, 295 and 296 in annular member 253 and the corresponding grooves in the other annular member serve to positively separate liquids on adjacent cylinders against admixture and provide for separate recovery of each liquid so that it may be recirculated through a control station and used again, it is evident that the passage of thread along the cylinder in the form of a large number of spaced connected coils would be prevented by such grooves. An arrangement is provided to permit use of discharge grooves and consisting of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bridges 291, each extending axially of the roller, disposed above annular member 253. Thus, the thread is supported by bridges 291 as it passes above grooves 293, 294, 295 and 296.

It is apparent that a single coil of thread in passing around any of the cylinders of either of the units or |2 defines an arc of substantially Disposition of the thread on bridges 291, however, is not arcuate but polygonal. Thus, if the surface of bridges 291 lay exactly flush with the surface of cylinders 256 and 25|, the thread path over the bridges would dene a polygon of lesser periphery than the periphery delined on the adjacent cylinders.

In operation this would be evidenced by wobbling of the thread in the separation zones, a tendency which would be augmented by the substantial quantities of liquid contained in the groove underlying the bridges. To counteract this effect, bridges 291 are raised in such a way that the polygonal path defined by the thread passing thereover is equal to, or very slightly in excess of, the length of the arcuate thread path on the adjacent cylinders. This arrangement keeps the thread in position during passage over the various annular members. It can be noted in any of Figures 2, 3, 8 and 9 that the upper surface of each bridge 291 is curved so that the bridge rises in a gentle curve from a point flush with the surface of an annular member between the grooves to a point above that surface and then back to it again, see in particular Figure 9.

Figure 12 shows another modification. Here the parts of. the roller are held together by threaded sockets 426 which receive threaded rods 421 passing through retaining plates 428, nuts 429 being used to draw up the assembly. The roller sections are indicated by 438, 432, and 44|. The end support elements of the roller portions are designated by 42|, 422, 423, 424 and 425. nates a suitable packing. The separation zones are indicated by 43| and 433, the former being an annulus provided with grooves and with shoul-v ders 435 and 436. The drive means is represented by shafts 382, 383, gears 381, 391, 398 and chain 396. The numeral 386 represents a support.

Another modification of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 13, a single thread-storage, thread-advancing unit being shown, although a plurality of such devices may be arranged in alignment to be driven from a common source, one arranged to serve each spinning place. The unit consists of an upper and a lower roller designated by numerals 416 and 411. These rollers are mounted on shafts 418 and 419 driven from a 434 cesigpurpose sprocket 48|] keyed to the shaft 419 which is connected to shaft M8 by a chain and sprocket system designated generally at tdi. Roller lll is hollow and is subdivided into interior zones by baiiles- 82. Into each zone a liquid is led by pipe 433 and the liquid passes through apertures 484, to the exterior surface of the roller. The apertures are in registry with grooves, the grooves .serving to move the liquids axially along the rollers in the direction of their supported ends.

Figures 14 and 15 show a two-unit thread-storage, thread-advancing device of a construction similar to that of Figure l. An upper roller 599 and a lower roller constitute the unit. The surface and the construction of the bridged separation zones of rollers 599 and 5|il may be similar to the corresponding portions of rollers |26 and |21 disclosed in Figure l and hereinbefore previously described. Rollers eti! and 5| El are provided with liquid supply pipes 5| l, 5|2, 5|3, and Elli having discharge jets directed at the surface of the respective rollers. Lower roller 5MB is provided with an additional treating liquid supply pipe bearing the numeral E-l5 and intended to function similarly to the corresponding pipe shown in Figure 1. Since pipe 5i5 is for the application of a sizing material, no corresponding element is necessary in connection with roller 509. Partition drain troughs 5|6 and 5|? underlie the various treatment zones on rollers 5&3?! and 5|0 respectively. These serveI to collect the liquid distributed over the surface of the rollers and to return them to a point of regeneration from whence they m'ay be recirculated toV treating position. Heating unit 5&9 is adapted to radiate heat to the inner surface of roller 5H), the material of said roller transmit- Ltingvthe heat by conduction to the outer surface thereof. Figure 16 represents a ow sheet for indicating the method in which the liquids are supplied to the various rollers during the treatment of the thread.

In producing and treating thread, viscose solution is extruded through spinning nozzle into an acid spin bath to form a coagulated thread therein which is led over godet 3E to the threadadvancing, thread-storage device il. The thread is treated on cylinders 2l2 and 2il9 with hot water or hot acid of a temperature of about 80 C. and thereafter on cylinders 210 and 'M3 With water of a temperature preferably of about 60 to '70 C.

. v'lhe thread is then led to treatment cylinders 248 Y and 253 on which it is desulphurized. The desulphurizing solution comprises preferably a 3.5 aqueous solution of sodium` sulphite maintained at a temperature of about 80 C. The' desulphurized thread is then treated on cylinders 250 and 256 with water of a temperature preferably of about 60 to 70 C. to remove residual sodium sulphite therefrom. The washed thread is then sized on cylinders 265. Any conventional textile iishing solution or emulsion may be used for this The finished thread is then Vdried on cylinders 25| and 251i and thereupon led to twisting device |3. When it is desired to spin highstrength yarn the coagulated thread is led from' the spinning nozzle l@ into a bath comprising either hot water or hot acid. The thread is then led to the thread-advancing, thread-storage device I I. "Suitable stretch is imparted to the thread and the spin bath may be continuously recirculated in a closed system. Water or acid dripping Yfrom the treatment cylinders is collected and recirculated through the system. The desulphurizing solution may also be constantly circulated in a closed system and the same applies to the iinishing solution. The thread is dried on cylinders 25| and 25d by means of a heating device inserted into cylinder 25|. The temperature of cylinder 25| is adjusted to produce a yarn having a desiredmoisture content, e. g. about 1l based upon the cellulose content of the yarn.

`figure 16 shows in diagrammatic Olm a Dre" fezred embodiment of a liquid supply and circulation system suitable for use in connection with the treatment method described above. The details and operation of the components of this system are set forth in my copending application Serial No. 450,934 led July 14, 1942.

Although use may be made of any conventional spin bath for coagulating the extruded viscose threads the spin bath preferably comprises about 150 to 216 grams of sulphuric acid, about 80 grams or" magnesium sulphate and about 7 grams ofzinc sulphate per liter of water, this bath being preferably maintained at a temperature of about 43 C. Although any known desulphurizing agent may be used in the process it is preferred to employ a desulphurizing solution containing about 35 grams of sodium sulphite per liter of water since it has been found that this solution, when maintained at a temperature of about C. will substantially completely desulphurizethe thread. Although the water and/or acid on cylinders 209 and 2&2 or in trough 34 may be used at a temperature below and above 80 C. (about 60 to 90 C.) it has been found that the optimum results are obtained when these baths are maintained at a temperature of about 80 C.

The process may be modied to allow wet spinning of any other synthetic thread. Thus, it is possible, with adequate changes of the treatment baths, to spin cuprammonium solutions, solutions of cellulose esters, polymerized hydrocarbone and derivatives thereof, etc. Modication of the process and the apparatus will readily be foreseen by those skilled in the art, and I desire to include all modications and variations coming Within the scope of the appended claims.

This is a division of my application Serial No. 450,934, led July 14, 1942, entitled, Process and apparatus for the manufacture of synthetic yarn, issued as U. S. Patent No. 2,416,533 on February 25, 1947.

What is claimed is:

l. A method for the treatment of thread that comprises forming a plurality of cylindrical, adjacent, substantially independent, rotating bodies of treating liquid in substantially horizontal ar'- ranement and in axial alignment, independently feeding treating liquids to the respective bodies and separately withdrawing liquids therefrom while eiecting axial propulsion of the liquids toward the respective points of withdrawal, moving succeeding portions of the thread helically through the respective liquid bodies in succession and collecting the thread.

2. A method for the treatment of thread that comprises forming a plurality of hollow, cylindrical, adjacent, substantially independent, rotating bodies of treating liquid in substantially horizontal arrangement and in axial alignment, independently feeding a treating liquid to each body along its axial length while axially displacing succeeding portions of the component liquid of the body toward one end thereof, separately discharging the treating liquid from each body at said end thereof at a rate correlated with the rate of feed and rate of axial movement to maintain the thickness of the body at a predetermined value, moving succeeding portions of 13 the thread helically through the respective liquid bodies in succession and collecting the thread.

3. A method for the treatment of thread that comprises forming a plurality of hollow, cylindrical, adjacent, substantially independent, rotating bodies of treating liquid in substantially horizontal arrangement and in axial alignment, independently feeding a treating liquid to each body along its axial length while independently axially displacing succeeding portions of the com ponent liquid of each body toward one end thereof, stopping the axial displacement of liquid at said end to cause a localized annular zone of increased thickness resulting in discharge of the liquid from the body at said zone, moving succeeding portions of the thread helically through the respective liquid bodies in succession and collecting the thread.

4. A method for the treatment of thread that comprises forming a plurality of hollow, cylindrical, adjacent, substantially independent, rotating bodies of treating liquid in substantially horizontal arrangement and in axial alignment, each body rotating at a constant speed throughout its length and all of said bodies rotating at the same speed, axially displacing succeeding portions of the component liquid of each body toward one end thereof while continuously, independently replenishing the displaced liquid, the rate of axial displacement of liquid being more rapid in some bodies than in others, stopping the axial displacement of liquid at that end of each body toward which displacement occurs to cause the formation of a localized liquid zone of increased thickness which results in discharge of liquid from the body in the 180 of the annular zone that lie below a horizontal plane diametrical of the body, moving succeeding portions of the thread helically through the respective liquid bodies in succession and collecting the thread.

5. A method for the treatment of thread that comprises forming a plurality of hollow, cylindrical, adjacent, substantially independent rotating bodies of treating liquid in substantially horizontal arrangement and in axial alignment, y axially displacing components of the body toward one end thereof, replenishing the displaced liquid at a rate correlated with the rate of displacement to maintain a predetermined body thickness, the body thickness being so correlated with the rate of rotation that the body maintains its cylindrical form, stopping the axial displacement of the liquid at the end of each body to cause a tendency to form a localized annular zone of increased thickness, which tendency is manifest in discharge of the liquid at said end, separately discharging the treating liquid from each body at said end thereof at a rate correlated with the rate of feed and rate of axial movement to maintain the thickness of the body at a predetermined value, moving succeeding portions of the thread helically through the respective liquid bodies in succession and collecting the thread.

6. A method for the after-treatment of thread that comprises moving succeeding portions of a 6 thread helically through a plurality of cylindrical, adjacent, independent rotating bodies of treating liquid horizontally arranged and in axial alignment, maintaining a substantially dry annular zone intermediate said independent rotating bodies, and moving said thread through said dry zone in the form of a helix of increased radial dimensions.

7. A method for the after-treatment of thread that comprises moving succeeding portions of a thread helically through a plurality of cylindrical, adjacent, independent rotating bodies of treating liquid horizontally arranged and in axial alignment, maintaining a substantially dry annular zone` intermediate said independent, rotatingV bodies, and moving said thread through said dry zone in a polygonal path of generally helical form having a maximum radial dimension greater than the dimension of the adjacent helices moving through bodies of treating liquid.

v8. A method for the lafter-treatment of thread that comprises movingsucceeding portions' of a thread in a generally helical manner through a plurality of cylindrical, adjacent, independent, rotating bodies of treating liquid horizontally arranged and in axial alignment while axially displacing succeeding portions of the component liquid of the body toward one end thereof and stopping the axial displacement at said end to cause the formation of a localized arcuate zone of increased liquid thickness between adjacent bodies, and moving said thread in a generally helical path through said zone of increased thickness, the radial dimensions of said path being greater than those defined by the thread in its helical movement through said bodies.

9. A method for the after-treatment of thread that comprises moving succeeding portions of a thread in a generally helical manner through a plurality of cylindrical, adjacent, independent, rotating bodies of treating liquid horizontally arranged an-d in axial alignment while axially displacing succeeding portions of the component liquid of the body toward one end thereof and stopping the axial displacement at said end to cause the formation of a localized arcuate zone of increased liquid thickness between adjacent bodies, and moving said thread through said zone of increased thickness in a polygonal path of generally helical form having a maximum radial dimension greater than the radial dimension of the adjacent helices moving through bodies of treating liquid.

10. A method for the after-treatment of thread that comprises moving succeeding portions of a thread in a generally helical manner through a plurality of cylindrical, adjacent, independent, rotating bodies of treating liquid horizontally arranged and in axial alignment while axially displacing succeeding portions of the component liquid of the body toward one end thereof and stopping the axial displacement at said end to cause the formation of a localized arcuate zone of increased liquid thickness between adjacent bodies, maintaining a substantially dry annular zone intermediate said independent rotating bodies, and moving said thread in a generally helical path through said zone of increased thickness and said dry zone, the radial dimensions of said path being greater than those defined by the thread in its helical movement through said bodies.

1l. A method for the after-treatment of thread that comprises moving succeeding portions of a thread in a generally helical manner through a plurality of cylindrical, adjacent, independent, rotating bodies of treating liquid horizontally arranged and in axial alignment while axially displacing succeeding portions of the component liquid of the body toward one end thereof and stopping the axial displacement at said end to cause the formation of a localized arcuate zone of increased liquid thickness between adjacent bodies, maintaining a substantially dry annular zone intermediate said independent rotating bod- HERBERT O. NAUMANN.

16 REFERENCES amsn Y The following referensues,4 are of record. in the file of this patent;

NITED STATES PA'IENTS Number. Name Date.

2,272,182 Buiiklgolder et al. Feb. 10, i942 227123,33 Walters T--f.. Feb- 1.0,` 194,2 2,302,620 LQVG? --f NOWv 17 1942. 2,303,053 KlingA eli alv- NOV-4 21. 1842,v 2,416,533 Naumann M Feb. Z5, 194,71

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 711,207 Germany A Sept. 27, 1941 

